Cda School Board Oks Bond Election

Business leaders lined up behind the Coeur d’Alene School Board even before it unanimously approved a $14.9 million Nov. 8 bond election Tuesday night.

The bond amount would cover construction of a third middle school, a multi-purpose room for Dalton Gardens Elementary and phase two of the Coeur d’Alene High School remodeling project.

The price is $1.5 million more than the bond levy that failed in May, even though it’s for the exact same projects.

Architect Mike Patano explained that construction costs are rising for commercial projects after having remained flat for years.

“There’s only so many people to do so much work, so the price has gone up,” Patano said. “I guess that’s supply and demand.”

A handful of business leaders attended the meeting to pledge their support and assistance in the campaign. North Idaho Building Contractors Association president Dirk Scot said his group would enlist its fax machine networks and provide free phone solicitors.

Representing a group called Concerned Businesses, Dean Haagenson of Contractors Northwest said his organization also supports the bond issue because “it’s good for kids” and the economy.

But Lee Shellman, high school booster and Republican

activist, said the bond would be a tough sell, especially coming on the heels of property tax increase notices.

Board member Wanda Quinn wondered whether timing the vote in conjunction with the general election was a good idea.

“A lot of candidates will be lobbying for lower taxes,” she warned. But if the district does stick with that date, she advised, it should be forthright with voters, telling them about the scheduled supplemental levy election in the spring and the fact that the bond issue will not finish the high school remodeling project.

The bond amount will result in a facilities tax rate of $1.74 per $1,000 of assessed property value.